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Hearing Loss… The “Silent Disability” Robert Grimshaw, MD FACP A Lifetime of Quality Care That’s Convenient & Complete A Lifetime of Quality Care Convenient & Complete A Lifetime of Quality Care That’s That’s Convenient & Complete Hearing Loss: A Lifetime of Quality Care Convenient & Complete A Lifetime of Quality Care That’s That’s Convenient & Complete The “Silent Disability”: Hearing loss, "is the number one disability among the elderly," according to Dr. David Nielsen, executive VP of the American Academy of Otolaryngology. People with it, he says, "just muddle through, struggling with communication." We hear about it when another family member complains about "being ignored" or about the TV volume being too loud. And all too often patients with hearing loss are thought to be losing memory and "going Alzheimer’s" or to be depressed. In a year 2000 survey by the National Council on the Aging, those with untreated hearing loss and their families reported more sadness, depression, worry, anxiety and paranoia. The numbers are staggering: 20-26 million in the U.S. A Lifetime of Quality Care Convenient & Complete A Lifetime of Quality Care That’s That’s Convenient & Complete Causes of Hearing Loss? • • • • • • • • • • Noise - loud noise over time can cause significant hearing loss, beginning in the higher frequency ranges. This is a significant worry in fans of loud music who come back from concerts saying their ears are "ringing." This means hearing is being damaged. Wax - build up can easily be relieved by us or an ENT consultant Smoking Medications - some 200 drugs are known to damage the inner ear. Among the most frequent are those used for cancer treatment or serious infections; the damage may be permanent. High dose aspirin, quinine and certain "water pills" (such as Lasix/furosemide) can cause temporary damage. More rarely prednisone-type medication, certain anesthetics and some mood-altering drugs can affect hearing. Typically, high frequencies are lost first. Otosclerosis is basically arthritis of the middle ear bones Meniere’s disease affects the inner ear with deafness & vertigo Trauma Acoustic neuroma is a tumor affecting the nerve of hearing and balance Autoimmune inner ear disease results from an attack by the body’s immune system Aging is also a factor A Lifetime of Quality Care Convenient & Complete A Lifetime of Quality Care That’s That’s Convenient & Complete What Can Be Done? First, Prevention: • Limit Noise • Clean out wax • Don’t smoke! • Regular hearing checks (which we’ll be glad to do!) A Lifetime of Quality Care Convenient & Complete A Lifetime of Quality Care That’s That’s Convenient & Complete The Future Surgically implantable aids have been approved by the FDA and cochlear implants (in effect, bionic ears) are in study. A Lifetime of Quality Care Convenient & Complete A Lifetime of Quality Care That’s That’s Convenient & Complete